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Archive for March, 2025

RootsTech 2025

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on March 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

It’s been a week since I attended my first session at Roots Tech 2025.

Most of the sessions I attended were “In Person Only,” but all have a link to the slides or highlights of the session in the links below.

Here are some of the most insightful and interesting sessions I attended at RootsTech 2025.

• Crista Cowan – What’s New at Ancestry® in 2025 (Session Available Online)
It’s always great to listen to Crista’s genealogy experiences. Learned the highlights of what’s new and upcoming with Ancestry.

• Diahan Southard – Combine Multiple DNA Test Types (How atDNA+YDNA+mtDNA=More Answers!) (Session Available Online)
Gained insights into the importance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) versus YDNA. I was also inspired to take an mtDNA test with myFamilyTreeDNA. Stayed tuned to learn about my experience.

Family Tree Maker 2024 Sessions

• Duff Wilson – How to Use Family Tree Maker with Ancestry and FamilySearch (In Person Only)
The session showed basic uses of accessing Ancestry.com with Family Tree Maker while demoing the upcoming Family Tree Maker 2024.

• Duff Wilson – New Features in a “Working” Version of Family Tree Maker 2024 (In Person Only)
Exciting new features including hyphenated last names, which is key for all the Spanish last names in my family history. Looking forward to the 2024 release and sending my thoughts and prayers to the Ukrainian developers behind the software.

All thing Artificial Intelligence (AI)

I have been learning and using AI for various personal projects, including assisting me in writing snippets of my family history projects. Here’s what I saw and what I learned.

• Panel Discussion – Guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in Genealogy (Session Available Online)
Excellent discussion on how AI should be used responsibly in genealogy research. It’s worth watching online.

• Storied – Using AI in Family History (In Person Only)
A fundamental overview of AI technology. There are lots of jokes but not much substantial information.

• Nicole Dyer – AI-Powered Transcription of Handwritten Documents: Tools and Techniques (In Person Only)
I really enjoyed Nicole’s sessions. I have followed her and her mom, Diane Elder, recently reading their blogs on https://familylocket.com/blog/.  Check out Nicole’s Youtube session on how she uses Airtable and  her video “How to Use Airtable AI to Write Paragraphs for a Genealogy Research Report“. The Airtable site also has good documentation using AI in it’s product. Check out https://www.airtable.com/guides/scale/how-to-use-airtable-ai.

• Denyse Allen – Using ChatGPT as Your Personal Writing Coach (In Person Only)
Engaging session with practical tips for genealogy writing.

• Nicole Dyer – AI-Powered Transcription of Handwritten Documents: Tools and Techniques (Session Available Online)
Another excellent presentation from Nicole. Great for intermediate to advanced transcription techniques using AI.

• Steve Little – Taking Your Prompting Skills to the Next Level (Session Available Online)
I highly recommend listening to or watching AI Gen Master, Steve Little’s sessions. Steve shared his journey in mastering AI tools for genealogy.

• Mark Thompson – Research Documents and Letters with Artificial Intelligence (In Person Only)
Mark is the other AI Gen master (IMHO), and his process for using AI in genealogy is fun and educational. The handout from this session was easy to follow and packed with valuable details.

Missed this session

• Nicole Dyer – Simplifying Citations: Automated Tools for Efficient and Accurate Documentation (In Person Only)

Given my recent genealogy writing, I have had my challenges with citations. I reviewed the syllabus download. Great content.

I hope you enjoyed reading my about RootsTech adventure. Let me know if you have any questions about RootsTech in general or these sessions. 🚀 

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Discovering Genealogy Resources at FamilySearch Library

Posted in Ancestry Research, Family History, Puerto Rican Ancestry, Uncategorized, tagged on March 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I am in Salt Lake City this week, attending RootsTech 2025. I had the pleasure of connecting this morning with Kathy Weber, the president of the Seattle Genealogical Society. Although we have conducted genealogy research for years, this is our first time at this conference. Kathy has introduced me to many experts, and by noon on Wednesday, May 5th, I’m already having a fantastic time.

At FamilySearch Library. Kathy Weber and Sylvia Vargas at RootsTech 2025

After breakfast, we walked to our destination for the day, the FamilySearch Library. For me, this place feels like the “Rome of genealogy.” While many Puerto Rico resources are available online, exploring several shelves of books on Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. I feel privileged to read works by Estela Cifre de Loubriel, the grand dame of Puerto Rican genealogy. Some of her books are available as digital images, such as La inmigración a Puerto Rico durante el Siglo XIX, but I can’t help but feel excited to hold and read the hardcover editions while taking notes.

While browsing through the books at the FamilySearch Library, I discovered a book titled *Cabo Rojo: Notas para su Historia*. Out of curiosity, I conducted a Google search to check for a digital copy. I was thrilled to find that Rutgers University’s Center for Latin American Studies has digitized the entire series. They have a collaborative project with archival institutions in Puerto Rico.

I highly recommend checking out the links from the search at Notas para Su Historia: Municipal Histories of Puerto Rico to learn about the towns’ history.

My next post will be about various sessions on DNA and AI, as well as the new FamilyTree Maker 2024 features to support hyphenated last names. Not a perfect solution for our Spanish paternal and maternal names, but great progress.
Note: Family Tree Maker 2024 will be released within two weeks.

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Transform Your Genealogy Skills through Online Classes

Posted in Ancestry, Family History, Uncategorized, tagged , on March 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Enhancing My Genealogy Journey Through Education

Over the past six months, I have taken a couple of genealogy classes through Salt Lake City Community College, and the experience has been both enriching and transformative. These classes, priced at $425 for an eight-week all-online format, offer a structured approach to genealogy research and writing that has significantly impacted my work.

The Structure and Value of These Classes

The coursework demands time and effort, with no scheduled live meetings but plenty of reading, video lectures, discussion board interactions, and weekly essay assignments. One key aspect that I appreciate is the importance of deadlines—if assignments aren’t submitted on time, they aren’t graded, and you miss out on feedback. This feedback, in my opinion, is the most valuable part of the courses.

These classes are not easy, but they are highly rewarding. Not only are they more affordable than many other genealogy courses, but they also provide structure and discipline, helping me stay focused on my genealogy research. In fact, they have motivated me to be more intentional with my research and writing.

Upcoming Class: Genetic Genealogy

My next class, Genetic Genealogy, starts on March 18th. As DNA testing has become an invaluable tool in genealogical research, I am excited to deepen my understanding of how to interpret results and integrate them into my research. This is a field that continues to evolve, and I look forward to leveraging genetic data to solve family mysteries.

The Joy and Challenge of Genealogy Research

Like many genealogy enthusiasts, I know the thrill of searching FamilySearch or Ancestry.com, clicking through records, and suddenly uncovering a connection—it feels like striking gold! Since my retirement, I have been deeply focused on writing and compiling family histories for my relatives from Rincón, Puerto Rico. However, before taking these classes, my writing was overly factual—pages filled with names, dates, census records, and birth certificates, but lacking the compelling narratives that bring ancestors to life.

The Impact of the Writing Life Stories Class

One of the most transformative courses I took was Writing Life Stories. Coming from a background in tech and data science, I often approached genealogy with a heavily analytical mindset. This class challenged me to step out of that perspective and embrace storytelling. I learned to add depth, emotion, and context to the lives of my ancestors, making their stories more engaging and meaningful. This is a skill I hope to continue developing, and I plan to take another storytelling-focused class in the future to strengthen this muscle further.

Introduction to High-Tech Genealogy: A Deeper Dive

Currently, I am completing WTGN001 – Introduction to High-Tech Genealogy. While I have been using Family Tree Maker and Ancestry.com for over 20 years, I saw this class as an opportunity to expand my knowledge and familiarize myself with other genealogy software tools. However, I quickly realized that this class offers much more than just learning new software.

One of the most valuable lessons has been understanding the professional and rigorous process of genealogy research—learning how to maintain research logs, create proper citations, and compile detailed research reports. More importantly, it reinforced the genealogical research process, ensuring that my findings are well-documented and credible.

Beyond Personal Research: Aiming for Publication

While my primary goal is to create a comprehensive family history for my relatives, I also have aspirations to publish my research in a genealogical journal or magazine. These classes have helped me refine my methodology and approach, making my work more structured, credible, and engaging.

Final Thoughts

Genealogy is more than just a hobby—it’s a way of preserving and honoring the past. Through these courses, I have not only gained new research skills but also developed a deeper appreciation for storytelling. I look forward to continuing my genealogy education and sharing more about my journey with others passionate about uncovering their roots.

Have you taken any genealogy courses? What has helped you improve your research and storytelling skills? I’d love to hear about your experiences!

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